A Tender Comforter

As one whom his mother comforts, so I will comfort you. Isaiah 66:13a

I love how God will often use an example we understand in order to help us comprehend His truths. Sometimes He will compare Himself to a father, a shepherd, a potter, a teacher, a friend, a king, or any number of individuals. Each one displays God’s role in our life and how He interacts with us. When He chooses aspects of a mother we are able to see His heart of tenderness. For those of us who had mothers who comforted us in times of need, this verse will touch us in significant ways. It is hard to imagine a mother who never offered comfort to her child. If that is the case for some, they may need to think of another person of comfort in their life to help this verse make sense. But whatever the case may be most people can picture the scene of a mother comforting a child.

I find it interesting that when a child is hurting and comes to his mother she instinctively puts her arms around him and begins to speak in hushed tones. Her body language and voice are meant to sooth him and ease the pain. Like those magical kisses that are meant to make his sore spot feel better, a mother’s hug and gentle words reach his spirit.

God wants us to see that He stands ready, willing, and able to do that for us as well. He longs for us to come to Him for comfort. He sees our tears, knows our place of pain, hears our cries, and is aware of what has brought it all on. Whether it is due to loss, hardship, disappointment, or even consequences for wrong doing, He always extends His offer of comfort.

When I am hurting (for whatever reason) the things I desire are alleviation of my grief, loss, or trouble, to receive strength and hope, to once again have a sense of well being, and to be soothed. I want to know that the one comforting me can understand how I am feeling. Their empathy and compassion will usually be in proportion to their own experience with pain and their measure of love for me. Since Jesus experienced more suffering in this world than I will ever personally know for myself and because He loves me with an everlasting love who better to seek comfort from?

Father, I know my tears are precious to You. And while friends will certainly be used by You to comfort me in many ways, it is You I desire now. Amen.

Sheep, Branches, and Clay

Yet, O LORD, You are our Father. We are the clay, You are the Potter, we are all the work of Your hands. Isaiah 64:8

God’s Word is filled with imagery. He knows we appreciate pictures. Tell me something and I might get it. But show me a picture and I will take hold of the concept for sure. Here are a few examples that God gives me as pictures from Scripture. You are the sheep, I am the Shepherd. I am the vine, you are the branches. And now, we are the clay and He is the Potter.

As my shepherd, He guides, protects and knows me by name. I am not a lost face in the crowd to Him. He claims me as His own and knows everything about me. He is aware of my tendencies to wander and always searches for me when I do. Just reviewing Psalm 23 in my mind assures me of His personal involvement in my life.

As the vine He is my life line. I am connected to Him and draw my spiritual sustenance from Him. Life flows from Him to me to produce fruit. How true His Words that without Him I can do nothing.

Finally, a picture of a potter with clay. He formed me in my mother’s womb and promises to continue His work in me through to completion. He is shaping my life into a specific vessel. His tools for shaping me vary. There are times He uses people, circumstances, books, nature, music, or trials to bring about a result in me. But above all, is His Spirit and His Word that can produce the most change.

I am struck today by all that clay does not do. It does not place itself in the potter’s hand or on the potter’s wheel. It does not determine what it will be made into or the process used to get it there. It is simply chosen. How well will I do today at entrusting myself to His hands to work in me? How well will I do at following my Shepherd and being attached to my Vine? It is my desire to be malleable , obedient, and connected with my heavenly Father.

He is aware of my flaws. He has already designed His purposes for me today. Between now and when I retire for the evening change in me will take place. May I realize that nothing will happen by accident today. God is passionate about His involvement in my life. Absolutely nothing will take Him by surprise. It is all “Father filtered” as a friend has said.

Father, I trust and look forward to what You have planned for me today. May I not miss anything You desire to show me! Amen.

A Productive Process

You will also be a crown of beauty in the hand of the LORD, and a royal diadem in the hand of your God…you will be called ‘My delight is in her’…for the LORD delights in you…as the bridegroom rejoices over the bride, so your God rejoices over you. Isaiah 62:3-5

In the summer of 2004 I came across this passage for what seemed like the first time. I had been on my journey for barely five months and this is what I journaled at the time…

It touches my heart and blows my mind that God sees me as a crown in His hand. Something of worth, value, and beauty. Someone He cherishes, loves, delights in, and rejoices over. May He steal my heart and keep me in awe of such wonder. His love and gentleness are foreign to me. I have viewed Him as tolerant of me at best. I was satisfied if I wasn’t offending Him in any way but I never dared to dream that He would actually extravagantly love me. Slight interest but not delight and rejoice over me. Slave master and harsh judge but not gentle, caring Abba Father. My view of Him has been distorted like bad reception on a tv. But through His Spirit, Word, and gentle touch He will bring Himself into right focus for me.

At that time, I was just beginning to catch a glimpse of the truth about God and His love for me. I longed for the picture to be clear and truthful. I wanted to see myself through His eyes. Now, almost two years later this passage does not seem foreign to me anymore but it still arrests the deepest part of me as I drink in words like delight and rejoicing. As I daily take in His message to me I become the recipient of His smile, His encouragement, His touch, and His delight.

I cannot point to an exact time when God finally convinced me of the truths of His love. It was a process much like a metamorphosis. I began reading His Word and devouring books that taught me the truth about His love for me. Over the course of months the truth began to sink in. The fog of my soul was beginning to clear away and what I saw was breath taking.

He is not finished with me yet. There are still lies and distortions He wants to reveal and heal. But what He has done so far is beyond what I at one time thought was possible.

Father, you continue to amaze me with the truths of Your heart. The more I see the more I hunger. Show me, convince me, change me. Amen.

Staying in the Battle

He arose and struck the Philistines until his hand was weary and clung to the sword, and the LORD brought about a great victory that day, and the people returned after him only to strip the slain. 2 Samuel 23:10

I love this one-verse story. In the midst of a battle, Eleazar’s comrades desert him but onward he is compelled to go. He rises to the occasion, sticks it out, grows weary, clings to His sword, and God gives him the victory. The whole thing is squeezed into one little verse! Talk about a concentrated capsule. We are not told the number of the Philistines, the length of the battle, or any further details. But as I read this verse my heart races with the strength and power of the story. I appreciate the intensity of Eleazar’s fight.

This morning I am reminded of battles we each must fight. Sometimes we are surrounded by fellow believers and we share in the conflict. There is strength in number and comfort in knowing we are not alone. But more times than not it seems we have our Eleazar moments. The people in our life have withdrawn or just aren’t aware of our personal battle. It could be a loss, a habit, an attack, or any number of enemies.

There was a time my list was long for who I could call during hard times. I gleaned counsel and prayer support from numerous sources. Eventually the list was intentionally being reduced by a loving heavenly Father who wanted me to learn to go to Him. Lately, I am finding a desire to make Him my refuge to whom I run. The sword I cling to is His Word --- knowing He will bring the victory.

It is not always fun, comfortable, or understandable but is it definitely worth it. Each incident strengthens my spiritual muscles and draws me into closer relationship with Him.

Father, when I am battle weary, strengthen me for the fight. Continue to help me cling to You and Your Word. Amen.

Seeing Where the Problem Lies

Call the Sabbath a delight, the holy day of the LORD honorable, and honor it, desisting from your own ways, from seeking your own pleasure, and speaking your own word, then you will take delight in the LORD. Isaiah 58:13, 14

Ever feel like God wasn’t hearing you, speaking to you, or moving on your behalf? Your prayers seem to be just words, your spirit goes unmoved, and God seems distant? I’ve been there and it is never fun. Maybe some of you can relate with what I am about to share.

About a month ago something happened in a relationship that sent me reeling. I could not begin to list the number of emotions that hit me all at once. The hurt was deep, the fear was incredible, and the battle was on. I could not shake it. I tried all the things I thought would work. I stayed in the Word, cried out to God, spoke the truth to replace lies, reminded myself that God’s hand was in all of it, confessed my idolatry, and clung to God’s hand with everything in me. But the whole time, my soul seemed dark, my spirit remained low, and I could not seem to move forward on my journey. I would have a few moments of relief in my day but would eventually spiral back down. I thought with time I would just get over it. God knew better.

I went for a walk last night and spent the first 15 minutes in silence. Neither God nor I spoke. It was horrible. I was miserable. Then I asked God to show me what it was that was blocking me from hearing Him, feeling close to Him, and moving past my situation. He wasted no time in revealing the problem. I saw clearly for the first time that I had become bitter. A root of bitterness had taken hold and it was growing quickly.

Freedom came and joy followed when tears flowed out of repentance and brokenness. The acknowledgement and confession of my own bitterness was the key to God removing what had been growing in me. I woke this morning without the pain, sorrow, and disappointment that has consumed me for the past month. Imagine a boat tied to a dock. The motor is full throttle, water is splashing all over the place, the noise is extreme, but the boat is going no where. I was that boat and my bitterness was the rope. Confession cut the line and I am moving forward! Praise God!!!!

Did God change my circumstance? No. He changed me!

Father, You have set this captive free and I am ecstatic! Amen!

A Permanent Resident

I dwell on a high and holy place, and also with the contrite and lowly of spirit. Isaiah 57:15

I marvel at God’s choice of residence. He sits enthroned in the glories of Heaven. Surrounded by beauty, angels, and worship. His power, might, and wisdom cannot be harnessed. He is God! Creator of Heaven and Earth. Sustainer of all life. And yet He longs to live in each one of us. To be a permanent resident!

This verse makes me picture a house. And what is it that swings open the front door and welcomes God in as a member of the family? Contrition and lowliness! My sorrow over sin and shortcomings and loss of self-assertive pride are the welcome mats to my heart. They invite God into my life and it is an invitation He never refuses. I misunderstood this for years.
I knew at salvation I had nothing to offer Him. I needed Him to forgive my sin and save me. When I accepted Christ as my Savior, He accepted me as His child. It changed where I would spend eternity and how I would live my life here. Yet somehow with time I lost the ability to be vulnerable with God.

My Christian life became a never ending attempt to put my best foot forward with my heavenly Father. The more I tried to show myself strong and capable of living a victorious life, the less I was able to admit to Him my own places of brokenness and failure. I bought into the lie that my imperfections, weaknesses, and vile tendencies repulsed and disappointed God when it came to His opinion of me. Not only did that cause me to pull in the welcome mat, it closed the door and kept me at arms length from having a close, intimate relationship with Him.

When Jesus told the Pharisees that a doctor is needed for the sick and not the healthy, I missed His point. All of mankind is sick! But only those who will admit it can get help. He longs for me to come to Him freely on a daily basis and admit where I need Him. It must be a life style of honesty with Him. Confession is not beating myself up over failure as much as it is simply admitting what God already knows about me. It allows Him to live in me and begin His work of revival.

Father, I am through with pretending. I welcome You in! Amen.